Issue link: https://www.epageflip.net/i/26998
6A – Daily News – Saturday, March 12, 2011 Opinion Let us decide Editor: D NEWSAILY RED BLUFF TEHAMACOUNTY T H E V O I C E O F T E H A M A C O U N T Y S I N C E 1 8 8 5 Greg Stevens, Publisher gstevens@redbluffdailynews.com Chip Thompson, Editor editor@redbluffdailynews.com Editorial policy The Daily News opinion is expressed in the editorial. The opinions expressed in columns, letters and cartoons are those of the authors and artists. Letter policy The Daily News welcomes let- ters from its readers on timely topics of public interest. All let- ters must be signed and pro- vide the writer’s home street address and home phone num- ber. Anonymous letters, open letters to others, pen names and petition-style letters will not be allowed. Letters should be typed and cannot exceed two double-spaced pages or 500 words. When several letters address the same issue, a cross section of those submit- ted will be considered for publi- cation. Letters will be edited. 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How to reach us Main office: 527-2151 Classified: 527-2151 Circulation: 527-2151 News tips: 527-2153 Sports: 527-2153 Obituaries: 527-2151 Photo: 527-2153 On the Web www.redbluffdailynews.com Fax Newsroom: 527-9251 Classified: 527-5774 Retail Adv.: 527-5774 Legal Adv.: 527-5774 Business Office: 527-3719 Address 545 Diamond Ave. Red Bluff, CA 96080, or P.O. Box 220 Red Bluff, CA 96080 Why are the Republicans so afraid to let the voting pub- lic vote on retaining the tax extensions — they are not new taxes — that our recent Republican governor and pre- sumably some republican leg- islators — since the Democ- rats can't do legislation like this alone — put into place some 2 years ago? If they are voted down, so be it — even though it means double cuts to schools, etc. At least it will be done by the voters. The Republicans cannot be blamed for the will of the people if that is what they are afraid of. Tell the truth about it — that it is not new taxes — but another extension of present tax extensions already in place. Then let us decide — not you. Just asking. Thelma Longo, Los Molinos Hogs at trough Editor: Some, in this community have expressed their resent- ment for those who depend on the government. In their point of view, they are the only ones in this county who have ever worked hard for what they got. And they don’t want to see it given away, at least not to those on public assistance pro- grams. Being in need is not evi- dence of a shiftless or lazy character, especially in times like these. Truth is the poor are not the only or the biggest hogs at the government’s trough. Big oil got $2.5 billion in oil subsidies this last year, while at the same time making record profits. Walmart got a $3 7mil- lion hand out from good old Uncle Sam in 2005 to widen and extent the road to their headquarters in Bentonville. A study by Philip Mattera found more that 240 cases where construction of new Walmart facili- ties got financial assistance from tax- payers. Mattera stressed that a billion dollar estimate of the worth of that “assistance” is an understatement. In 1994 Barrick, a Canadian mining Corporation, patented 1,945 Nevada acres at a cost to generous Uncle Sam of only $9,725. They got around $10 billion worth of gold from the deal. It sure paid them to have an ex-President George H.W. Bush on the payroll. Instead of seeing what social programs can be cut our representatives should cut the money flow to those who need it the least. Also it’s about time we gave up on that stupid trickle down myth. Your Turn The U.S. should tax and spend in a more sensible man- ner. In other words make those rich corpora- tions contribute more to the cause in order to increase the budget for social programs especially the ones that ensure brighter futures for our chil- dren. One last thought, if it were not for strong unions in this country, the average work day would still be 12 hours long. Extra benefits would not exist, and pay would be pathetically low. If you did not know that, your grasp of our heritage is pretty sad. And if you think those diffi- cult working conditions could never reappear, you don’t know human nature. Orval Strong, Gerber Your officials STATE ASSEMBLYMAN — Jim Nielsen (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 6031 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 319-2002; Fax (916) 319-2102 STATE SENATOR — Doug LaMalfa (R) State Capitol Bldg., Room 3070 Sacramento, CA 95814 (916) 651-4004; Fax (916) 445-7750 GOVERNOR — Jerry Brown, State Capitol Bldg., Sacramento, CA 95814; (916) 445-2841; Fax (916) 558-3160; E-mail: gover- nor@governor.ca.gov. U.S. REPRESENTATIVE — Wally Herger (R), 2635 Forest Ave. Ste. 100, Chico, CA 95928; 893-8363. U.S.SENATORS — Dianne Feinstein (D), One Post Street, Suite 2450, San Francisco, CA 94104; (415) 393-0707. Fax (415) 393-0710. Barbara Boxer (D), 1700 Montgomery St., Suite 240, San Francisco, CA 94111; (415) 403-0100. Fax (202) 224- 0454. Say the word, or not Commentary What a world of contrasts we live in. Looking around us we see graphic contrasts in rules, regula- tions, the role of government, and the ability of the "ordinary Joe" to express him/herself. We are not sure about what "free speech" is, or the consequences of exercising it. For example, a group of Moslem UC Irvine students face prosecution for interrupting the speech by an Israeli official; the courts will most likely determine if this was criminal behavior. In other countries hit squads or secret police make that determina- tion. For example, people were arrested in Zimbabwe for watch- ing television coverage of the unrest in Libya, Tunisia, and Egypt. They were charged with treason. Watching television may in fact be treasonous because it dummies down the electorate and destroys the vibrancy of the citi- zenry, but certainly that argument would not fly in an American court. Speaking of the United States, the Supreme Court ruled, in an eight to one decision, that the small Kansas Baptist congrega- tion that has protested at the burial ceremonies of slain servicemen and women have not invaded the privacy of the families of our fall- en heroes, nor could those fami- lies sue for emotional damage as a result of those egregious demon- strations thanking their deity for dead soldiers. This congregation argues the dead soldiers are their god’s punishment for American acceptance of homosexuals. Their deity must be an equal opportuni- ty deity since those very soldiers whom he is punishing are out killing Islamists who are not very tolerant of homosexual activity. One family member of a slain soldier accused the eight justices who voted together to deny the suit by grieving families of having an aggregate intelligence of less than a single goat. That family member will not be prosecuted either. In the United States we can even burn our flag in public with- out going to jail. In Pakistan a Christian provin- cial cabinet minister was assassi- nated by a radical Moslem group for alleged blasphemy against Islam; he was shot down in front of his home. Previously the gover- nor had been killed for the same reason. Closer to home, the Daily News had to change its online feedback system to require more transparency in identifying those who comment on articles and columns in an attempt to keep down the anonymous "rock throwing" by those who were apparently too embarrassed at their own anger or rudeness to let anyone know who they were, but still needed to vent. In China people using the word "jasmine" in texts were called in for questioning because that word is associated with the "jasmine revolution", a concern of the "People's" Republic. Those inter- rogated mentioned harsh treat- ment. At the Academy Awards cere- mony one of the recipients had to be "bleeped out" when she let loose with one of George Carlin's notorious nine words you can't use on the air. While certainly embarrassed, she will not suffer incarceration. The head designer at Christian Dior will no longer have a job with that design house because he made public statements saying he loved Adolph Hitler; it is not clear if he loved him because of his style sense or his anti-Semitism; in any case, apparently it is not stylish to praise fallen crazy dicta- tors. Speaking of crazy dictators, it is my hope that the press will soon be relieved of the burden of trying to figure out the correct way to spell the last name of the Libyan strong man, if he decides to pack up his tent and go elsewhere. Reporters have had a rough go of it lately; in Egypt a female reporter was brutally assaulted by an unruly mob; in China reporters are routinely harassed verbally and physically, most recently for strolling where a suspected demonstration might take place. In Burma the press is routinely booted. Of course, there are constant verbal assaults on the media in the United States. I'd like to think that profes- sional journalists, not the show business types who rant and rave, try to do a thorough job of digging up the truth; I appreciate it even if the truth is inconsistent with my beliefs, and I try to adjust my mind accord- ingly. Joe In the sixties fre- quently seen wall writing was "Repression Breeds Rebellion"; some would say that is what is hap- pening in the North African-Mid- dle East corridor. Burma is another hot spot, and China worries about possible problems with their peo- ple. Iran is trying to squash turmoil. The strong men in the Arabian Gulf states are trying to buy off their populaces or destroy their opponents. Whether those oppres- sive countries can maintain the sta- tus quo is yet to be seen. One of the first steps in con- trolling the population is picking an enemy and demonizing them, telling your people you will pro- tect them from that enemy, and trying to convince the people the party in power is their ally. For a long time Israel was so demo- nized by Middle Eastern and North African governments; how- ever the average ages in those countries is so low that the major- ity of the population was born after the last war with Israel; peo- ple are now focusing on their own governments as the enemy. In Libya the people were told Al Qaeda was poisoning the water, Harrop driving the youth to rebellion; not likely that attempt at obfuscation will fly, but meanwhile the parties in power in various countries con- tinue with their agenda of corrup- tion, power, and false choices. It is also true that when polled people want a government that brings order and pre- dictability; that is one reason oppressive gov- ernments stay in power. For many imposed order is a healthy alter- native to chaos. On some level those oppressive govern- ments provide what the common people want, stability. A problem arises, however, when people's expectations grow through exposure to the outside world, frustration of false promises that things will get better, poverty, and an understanding that things do not have to be as they are. The people in those countries are beginning to exercise free speech, and they are beginning to make a difference in their countries. It all started when people in Tunisia people began to realize they could generate a critical mass to make changes. The concept of critical mass derives from nuclear physics where it is the smallest mass of fissile material needed to sustain a nuclear chain reaction. A con- trolled chain reaction can generate power; an uncontrolled chain reaction will become an explo- sion. Whether or not the critical mass of protesting citizens will be able to control their countries and bring them into civilized democ- ratic territory is the question of the day. Joe Harrop is a retired educator with more than 30 years of service to the North State. He can be reached at DrJoeHarrop@sbcglobal.net.